Helping Daddy

Brooks is a big fan of helping daddy. If something requires any kind of assembly, Brooks is on top of it, often waiting with screwdriver in hand waiting for instructions.

Our big four year old!

Genevieve was very excited for her birthday this year, (as can be seen from the early morning photos below!). She knew that being four years old must be something special. Plus, who doesn't love a day of fun activities planned in his or her honor? She awoke to balloons and a decorated bedroom door along with all of her gifts wrapped on the mantel. (Not being able to open them all first thing in the morning was tough, but it kept up the anticipation.)

The Princess Genevieve Barbie doll that we had been saving for the past three and a half years. How neat is it to have a Barbie named after you?

She was excited about the privilege to eat doughnuts and take them to swimming lessons to share.

A big girl bicycle for our growing girl!

She was able to meet the real Chuck E Cheese for her birthday!

My two favorite guys!

Genevieve and her favorite friend Kendall; the two of them are hilarious together!

Having LOTS of fun!!

When Genevieve told me that she wanted a Dairy Queen cake with My Little Pony, I felt like I had lucked out! I was preparing myself mentally to bake some big, complicated theme cake at home. Ice cream cake with fudge and chocolate crunchies in the middle and that I don't have to make, that's my favorite! I was excited.

However, we did learn that we can save our money next year and simply get her pretty frosting, as that was the only part that she was interested in eating! We had to keep her from licking the cake too much; you can bet that these edge pieces were hers.

Happy birthday to our darling girl!! You won our hearts from the day we met you! Thank you for bring us so much joy!

Brooks is ONE!!

Brooks was lucky enough to celebrate his first birthday in Hawaii with most of my familytogether. I don't think his birthday parties for years will be able to compete with this! It was great to have so much family with us!

We bought a giant cake from Costco with a beach scene. Brooks wasn't quite sure what to do with it, at first, but it didn't take him long to figure it out. He had a lot of fun smashing, smushing, and stuffing it in his mouth. We had to shower him off in one of the beach showers and hose down the chair by the end. What else are first birthday cakes for?!

Opening a few gifts from family.

Once we were back home, Brooks received his birthday gifts from us. I was glad to see that they were such a hit! The push roller and ride-on truck were perfect for this boy!

Brooks, we LOVE you!!! We are SO glad that you came to join our family a year ago! We wouldn't be the same without you!

An Island Get Away

What can beat a vacation at the beach, surrounded by family and beautiful weather, with plenty of reason to relax and enjoy? We went for a week with my parents and four of my siblings along with their families. It's true that a group of twenty people is a lot to manage, but we all had a wonderful time! We love get-aways like this, and look forward to the next time we can all get together again! It is definitely one of Genevieve's favorite places now. I can't blame her!

Brooks, worn out at church, by all of the playing at the beach and pool the day before.

Happy fourth of July!

Playing at the pool

The view from our hotel room. Gorgeous!

Nap time in paradise!

A night out just for the adults.

This was the normal dinner "party" routine. We rotated nights cooking for everyone and gathered by the beach side. This particular picture was from Brooks's birthday, so Genevieve made sure that she was dressed appropriately for a party. I love this girl!

What a great trip! Thank you, Mom and Dad, for such a wonderful time and memories!